New-York tribune., 1887-12-27
FAITH HE4LLRS BETOND THE LAr
OBSTACLES IN The WAY OF pEosrcruox

| THE COUNSEL FOR TIE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
SAYS M Is PowERLT~S II touch rurv
The suci1e o: sqnires. tie filth cnre patisu, mi,
han gcd himself at tae f'T. Mr. SIMPSON, "Ho.,..,
/ Home" in sixty -first-st.. In week Las c,r..l
inquire whether there Il not some rea,ely in tl l-
picable to those who practise deu,iy- ar irrs,,,,l
"isms." especially when the death OF p,teut.,.,,,o ~
traced to them. 1t has been asked whether the ,,e,l
esciety of the County OF New.YOrH could be co,l.,,
TO have done its whole dniy un such cases a, ,b, :,
Squres had been followed
" A. Purrns,on TIE counsel OF the society Wa
asked about tao matter by reporter lie .od
There i, lnisapprehepssn regarding tie law in ,uei
cases which works injustice to the lcdcal Ssci.t, yia
legal status Of fath cures. faitnst. 'mindlo ers
anl-drollest name OF all mctanhysican.,, ny.I nv
thu statute regulating the practice Il melcne caoter
Gi7 Of the laws o. 1857. which coaiel number OF con-
hictsg laws, ALL apparently in force 40 the Of il,
passage Il Is not perfect Law, Il r. geo law
that Of Illinois. As originally drafted contained
definition vi the term practice Oi medicine buta prom.
inent Senator, with influence enough 10 have kept hi.
word said nc would defeat the bill with lis definition IN
H. as 1t would affect person whom declared Lava
cured him in maryesu, fashion, aud 20
the bill the defntisn stricken ONT am ,oay
n receipt of letter from Of the most prJn asat
medical msn il Massachusetts. ascrbing the failure to
get medical l-. station that state the TIA;
many Of its -.isators unwilling to deprive them
selves OF treatment by clairvoyants and others Tat
ia.
THE DEFINITION ~ THIS STAFF.
"The definition OF Tie term practice OF medicine,
under the law Of this ;ate. is found the case sra
Lane, decided by the General Term OF tai, depart.
mept, Justice Daniels rcang the opinion and justices
Davis and Brady concurriug. Il an action brought
by rubber to recover fees for services and the
that the services medical and that the
pAintin not licensed practitioner In the Of
the spniln the following statements were made 'Ihs
did in prohibit any person n0m following
an occupation OF til, description. and without sono
prs0tios II wsUd seem To be A. lawful any oAer.
Il Was tss purpose auI 03Io,- of tie Les.satIro
Dy this act prevent continuance of deeterous prac-
tcss ct this nature medcne and rgery. and to
line the sf medicine and the operations VI surgery
class Of persons who, upon examination. >ho.id bs
found competent and qualified 10 follow these prses-
s!onal pursuits. 40 such danger could possibly
from the treatment 10 which the plaintiffs occupation
was confined. While IL might bs 10 beDeni. IT could
barsly 10 Isssble that II could rcsult IN harm or
injury. II may be that ortduloJs persons
wollI be deceived into the cmp.oy mont OF iAe
plaintiff. AID in that subjected to tnpo sluoa
Bur part OF !he purpose OF tliS act 70 prevent
porsoss fr. being made tho subject Of mere imPonuoa
At will Dee ssen from these excerpts that t8e 60 oIr to
lowed the lc .al maxim: JgVeWt6 bus NOt d,rneH-
hbu. which, broadly translated, take 10 mean that no
one may he restrained frsl making fool o. himself
Evidently the Court did not consider the harmful result
81 reliance on the class OF people We are no" discussing
which should postpone proper medical advice until 100
late. happened in the recent Brooklyn case. II coes
harm ist faith Lealer 20 pray Tor patient wiih
Insumeua or for EetaIhy stefan 10 apply his misliy
brain its relief ana yet most people regard the faith
curcT prctends to have speciai arrangements Nta
the Deity to be not only asw.ai.eg out 5aspAem-E
InE COUNTY MEDICAL sOCIETYs RULE
1.-The rus followed by the county society il its pros
ecutess based on the decisions u tie couis. q
that any person making dagDes; OF disease anGpfe-
scriing remedies and treatment therefor. whether pre-
iendn. TO derive knowledge from ed!cal education
fro. that REGULAR source OF isht snly 10 the
seventh daughters Of seventh daughters practising
medicine within the statute Acting Or this rule tAo
sscety has been successful presscutisn has
Instituted and has convlstcd a nusber OF c,irvoyants
Mr. Purrngton said that the difficulty OF prosecuting
persons whs lived by swndling silly and creiulous
peops especially those unler the lsh lence o. religious
zeal, lay IN the necessity OF proving that their
false pretcnccs sucu wOuli deceive person Ot
ordinary common sense. ami that the pretensen' ten.
selves false A famous i:ty year, aso wls
"nsls prcscs" because the District -Attsne sat -
csui prove neither. Mr. PurringOn said that District
Atfsraey Narne hal prosecuted with prOnptLssS al
sases a.sinst yOlatsrs OF tue nedica! act